We have been using the theme of 'Games people play' for our Sunday morning messages over the last few weeks. Last week we found out what we should do when we were truly SORRY. In the weeks before we have discussed what we should do when our home feels like a BATTLESHIP. We talked about the importance of getting the LIFE and giving Jesus Christ the MONOPOLY in our lives. This morning we will close out our series by addressing the question of "What we should do when we don't have a CLUE!" The game of CLUE is one of my favorites. A crime has been committed. We get to play detective, and try to figure out who committed the crime, where the crime took place, and what weapon was used. You begin the game with a few clues of your own, and then you start making guesses until finally, by process of elimination, you figure out the right answers! For many, that is how they approach life in general. Stumbling along guessing and hoping they get it right! I found a student help website that gave hints to guessing on tests! Listen to some of their 'hints'.
Now that is some great advice isn't it? I am surprised they missed one of my favorites. Use the quadrant method. Look at your watch or the clock on the wall and see which quadrant the second hand is in. The first quadrant is a, the second b, and so on. That works great unless your watch battery is dead! What they are really saying is this, when you don't have a CLUE, just make a wild guess and hope for the best! That is no way to make decisions about your life! God has given to us His Word…within the pages of this Book we find instructions on every aspect of our life and the answers to all of our questions. Even the question of "What to do when we don't have a CLUE!"
I. Introduction
A. Jehoshaphat was the 4th King of the Southern Kingdom, Judah.
1. He was a 'good' king.
2. He is described as one who "sought the LORD with all his heart."
3. But like we saw last week with David, it doesn't mean he didn't make some mistakes!
4. He made some poor decisions, and as a result the nation was now facing a major assault from its enemies.
5. Our text verse is part of Jehoshaphat's prayer to God.
2Ch 20:12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
B. How does this apply to us?
1. He had allowed his focus to shift from the Lord and that is what got him in trouble in the first place.
2. In our text verse he tells God, "We're in trouble, and I have no CLUE what to do, but I am looking to You for the answer!"
3. In this, Jehoshaphat becomes a great example for us.
4. There are many times in life that we will find ourselves without a CLUE, that isn't a sign of weakness…it is just a fact of life.
5. When we find ourselves in this place, we must look to the Lord for what to do.
C. Games are fun, but they fall short in directing us in how we should live our lives.
1. It is fun to make guesses and guess right!
2. But when it comes to our lives, we need to have clear direction.
Pr 25:8a Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end …
Pr 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
3. The consequence of making the wrong choice in life is too serious for us to be guessing.
4. But the Lord promises direction!
II. God gives Clear Direction cf. Pr. 3:5-6
A. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart"
1. It all begins with FAITH.
a. Trust = faith or "believe"
b. "Trust in the Lord" occurs 152 times in the Old Testament
c. Equivalent to "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ"
2. God's will for us is that we might Trust in Him for salvation.
2Pe 3:9b The Lord is not … willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Ro 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
B. "Lean not to thine own understanding"
1. Human understanding is limited and often faulty
a. Our learning has not brought us the key answers to life
b. We can be well educated and still miss the truth.
2. The Bible gives God's instruction for how to live life
3. God's Word is given for our profit or benefit.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2Ti 3:16
a. The Bible tells us what is Right
b. Tells us what is Not Right
c. Tells us how to Make Right
d. Tells us how to Keep Right
C. "In all thy ways acknowledge him"
1. God is at work in all events in our lives
a. "All things are of God"
(2 Cor 5:18) "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;"
b. "All things work together for good"
(Rom 8:28-29) "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. {29} For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."
2. We need to see God's hand in everything
a. This will remove anxiety and increase our joy
b. It will make us a positive praising person
3. We must begin with faith…we make choices by faith…and we walk by faith
D. "He Shall Direct Thy Paths"
1. This is what we are looking for…
2. As we look to the Lord for direction…
3. We trust Him and not ourselves!
4. He will direct our paths…He will give us the instruction we need to make the right choices.
5. We don't have to guess at what we should do…all we need to do is trust Him.
There are those who would say that this was too simple. There must be more to it. But God made things simple for us. It is as simple as us trusting Him.
1. For Salvation
2. For direction in our day-to-day lives
3. What about you this morning?